In the 2022 Asia Cup final on Sunday, Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan by a score of 23 runs thanks to a commanding effort. The Sri Lankan team’s stars of the evening as they won a sixth continental championship in Dubai were Bhanuka Rajapaksa (71*) and Wanindu Hasaranga (3/27) The Sri Lankans, who were given the opportunity to bat, posted a solid total of 170/6 in 20 overs, and Pakistan, despite a solid 71-run third-wicket partnership, lost the initiative in the final few overs and were bowled out for 147 in a devastating batting collapse.
After Pakistan made a quick start by dismissing the in-form Kusal Mendis in the first over of the game after asking Sri Lanka to bat first, Rajapaksa, Dhananjaya de Silva (28), and Wanindu Hasaranga (36) all contributed effectively to help the Lankans reach a respectable total in Dubai.
Even though Mohammad Rizwan (55) and Iftikhar Ahmed (32), who put on a 71-run partnership, were the only players in positions 5 through 11 other than Haris Rauf (13) to reach double figures, Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam failed once more as he was dismissed on 5 off 6 balls.
However, Pramod Madushan, who had just played in his first T20I against the same opponents in the Asia Cup, took four wickets, including that of Babar Azam, to overtake him as the leading wicket-taker in the Lankan lineup. Hasaranga also did well with the ball, picking up three wickets while allowing 27 runs in his four overs. Maheesh Theekshana was efficient in his four overs, returning figures of 1/25, and Chamika Karunaratne finished with two wickets of his own.
With their sixth continental victory, Sri Lanka moved up to second place in the Asia Cup standings, trailing only India’s seven victories. Sri Lanka has won the T20 Asia Cup for the first time as well.
Brief scores:
(20 overs) Sri Lanka (Bhanuka Rajapaksa 71 not out; Haris Rauf 3/29). (Mohammad Rizwan 55; Wanindu Hasaranga 3/27) Pakistan 147 all out in 20 overs.
